174 Spiritual Evolution of Society 



life of the world the characteristic product which 

 constitutes such a powerful motive influence enlisted 

 in the cause of progress. The development which took 

 place at this stage in the life of the social organism 

 could only take place then. The time for it can never 

 recur. The subsequent course of social development 

 must be different amongst the peoples where it was 

 retarded or suppressed, and amongst those where it 

 was allowed to follow its natural course. The nature 

 of this difference caused by the greater development 

 of the humanitarian feelings and the greater extent 

 to which the deepening and softening of character 

 has proceeded amongst the peoples most affected 

 by the Reformation will be dealt with at a later stage." 

 Mr. Kidd continues (ibid., p. 301-2) : " The character of 

 the people had in fact not only been deepened and 

 strengthened, it had been softened to an extent hitherto 

 unknown. It is probable that the changes in doctrine 

 which had principally contributed to produce this 

 result were those which had tended to bring the in- 

 dividual into more intimate contact with the actual life 

 and example of the Founder of Christianity, and there- 

 fore with the essential spirit that underlay our re- 

 ligious system and served to distinguish it from all 

 other systems. As has been frequently pointed out, 

 the characteristic feature of Latin Christianity was 

 different. This form has always tended as it still 

 tends to treat as of the first importance, not the re- 

 sulting change in character of the individual but 

 rather his belief in the authority of the Church, and 

 of an order of men, and in the supreme efficacy of 

 sacramental ordinances, which the Church has decreed 

 itself alone competent to dispense. On the other hand, 

 the central idea of the Reformation was the necessity 

 for a spiritual change in the individual, and the 

 recognition, in virtue thereof of the priesthood in his 



